Closure for inflatable bodies.



THW. MILLER. GLOSURE l-OR `INFLATABLB BODIES. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.9,19'14.

Patented May 26, 1914..

Y lar thereon being shown in section. 2O

rUNITEB STATES PATENT iildlhliilt;

THOMAS W. MILLER, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'IO FAULTLESS RUBBER COMPANY, -OF ASHLAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

cLosURn ron-INFLATABLE Bobine.

My invention relates to toy balloons and.

similar inflatable articles, and has foiits object to provide the article with an nnproved means for retaining thereon the inflating medium, which readily may be inanipulated either-to close or to open the saine.

In the accompanying drawing :'-Iiigure 1 is a side elevation of a toy balloon in collapsed or uninflated condition and embodying myimproved device, the operating Fcol- 1g. 2 is a similar view, showing the balloon inflated and the parts adjusted to retain the inflati-ng medium therein. Fig@ is a det-ail sectional view of the balloon neck and the apertured mouth-piece inserted therein. Fig. 4 isla view similar to Fig. 3 showing .a slightly modilied construction. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective viewotl the operating collar. 1

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

In the said drawing the reference nu- Ineral 1 denotes` the inflatable body of the balloon or similar article, and 2 the neck thereof, which is openand preferably has formed integrally thereon an enlarged 'flange 3. Inserted in said neck 2 is a mouthpiece or plug 4, the) same being formed of a solid piece of any suitablematcrial, such as wood, hard rubber, metal or the like, and being of a diameter sufficiently large to present a substantially dat inner surface 5 inaterially larger vthan the normal diameter of the neck 2. Said moutlrpiece lor plug is centrally apertured at. 6 and has itsperiphery grooved at 7 to receive theflange 3 of the A neck 2, as shown. Disposed on the neck 2 is a collar 8, somewhat elongated, and

formed of any" suitable material,y such as metal, semi-vulcanized rubber or the like,

it being necessary only that it haveI al certain 'rigidity against longitudinal yield.

In assembling the collar 8 is first slipped onto the neck 2 of the article while the latter is in a` collapsed state, and the mouthpiece or plug 4 is inserted into the neck 2 Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 9, 1314. Serial No. 823,450.

Patented May iii-14.

of the article until the flange 3 is disposed in. the groove 7 therein, where it will be retained against'displacementby the stretched condition of said neck, in a manner similar to the application of a rubber nippleto the neck of a nursing bottle. The article now may be inflated by forcing air or other fluid through the mouth-piece or plug, either by the application of the lips thereto or by means of anysuitable mechanical fluid supply device, and, when inflated, 'by twisting either the mouth-piece orI plug 4 with ,re-

spect to the body l, or said body with respect to said mouth-piece orplug, the 'neck 2 will be caused to assuine'av twisted condition, shown in Fig. 2, which elfectiially will prevent the escape of the fluid from vthe `body l. Upon now releasing theI parts, it will. be found that the collar S will be forced bytthe expanded body 1 into contact with that portion of the neck 2 lying against the larger inner face 5 of themouth-piece or plug 4, and will by friction automatically retain said body l and mouth-piece or vplug 4 against any rotation relative to each other, afnd thus will retainsaid neck 2 in its twisted condition, whereby egress of the inllating fluid ei'lectually will be prevented. To de llate the article it is necessary only to untwist the neck 2, which may be done by ma- 'nipulating the mouth-piece or plug 4 with respect to the body 1,-which will open said neck 2 for the .escape of the inflat-ing fluid through the aperture 6.

l In Fig.` 4 I have shown a slightly modilied construction,v the neck v2 being additionally retained in position on the mouthpiece or plug 4 by winding a thread Slthercon just back of the flange 3 and in the groove 7.

llilhile' I have described my invention as applicable particularly to toy rubber balloons, still I contemplate its use in connectioniwith any inflatable articles, such as football bladders, 'striking ball bladders, and the like, it bcinf capable of usev with any article inflated through a iiexliblef neck.

Having thus described myl invention, what Iv claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1, The eoinl'iination with an inflatable body, of .ineansjfor automaticallyl retaining a portion of the saine in a twisted condition to prevent passage. of the inflating medium therethrough.

2. The combination with an 'inflatable body, and an open iiexible inflat-ing neck `thereon, of means for automatically retaining said neck in a twisted condition to prevcrt passage of the inating medium. theretirough. 3. he combination with an inflatable lflated and said neck is twisted to retain vsaid neck against untwisting through its frictional contact between and said plug.

5.,An article of the character described, embracing an inflatable body, a iexible open said inflated body -said neck between said body neck therefor, an apertured plug fitted onto said neck, and a collar of smaller diameter than that of said plug loosely disposed on and said plug 1n position to be forced against said plug by the pressure of said body When inliated.

6. An article of embracing an iniiatable body, a iiexible open neck therefor, an apertured plug of larger diameter than said neck and having a peripheral groove to receive and retain the outer end ofsaid neck When the latter is stretched thereon, anda collar offsmaller diameter than that of said plug loosely disposed on said neck between said body and said plug in position to be forced against said plug by the pressure of said body when iniated. y

In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS W. MILLER. Witnesses L. E. FISHER,

I. L. MILLER.

the character described,l 

